History of Anti-Semitism in Europe

Anti-semitism did not begin (or end) with Nazi Germany. In this activity, students will create a timeline that highlights the development of anti-semitism in Europe. This activity addresses the question that many students ask when they study the Holocaust: “Why did the Nazis single out the Jews?” The timeline should start with destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. Students should view the 13 minute documentary that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hosts on the history of anti-semitism in Europe.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.

Suggested Events for History of Anti-Semitism Timeline

• 70 - The Romans Destroy the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem
• 1000 - State and Church Laws Restrict Jews
• 1095 - The Crusades
• 1350 - The Black Plague
• 1517 - The Protestant Reformation
• 1894 - The Dreyfus Affair
• 1903 - The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
• 1920 - Pseudo-Scientific Racial Theories

Extended Activity

For an extended activity, students could create a similar timeline storyboard for other groups that have faced long-term persecution. Native Americans or Africans would provide a good focus for this kind of activity. This will allow them to see trends in history and connect different events.

Student Instructions

Create a timeline detailing the history of Anti-Semitism in Europe leading up to the Holocaust.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Add additional cells as needed.
3. Identify important events and policies and type them into the titles of each cell.
4. Describe the events in policies in the description boxes.
5. Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
6. Save and exit when you're done.